Yes, there is a way to stream line government and it can be done with out hurting the little man. But not by making mega division. You will have the same problem as you have with mega schools. You will become a number and not a person. I will say I am trying to keep this as un partisanship as possible but I was not the original poster. I am afraid that this on the list will end up causing problems if we especially start calling out parties. It is hard to talk about something like this and not bring in partisanship in on it. I will say the whole problem with the country and the state is we are always way to the left or way to the right. But I hope at some point for the country and the state we can find a middle ground that we all can live with. But this plan is not it in my opinion. I have been in or around politics and government all my life in some way or the other. I have worked for the Florida legislature for over 30 years. So I do know a little about government and politics and how it works and the good , bad and the ugly . Just more of my thoughts. sign, Joe Plummer (JP) joeplummer@xxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Daniel Ben Moshe Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 8:07 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] Re: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities... I knew it, it wasn't going to be long before they went ahead and did this. I knew five years ago that this day was coming very soon. For most of us who were sourt of in the loop, they have been talking about this for a while. I'M sure that many of you have been observing what was happening with organizations like DBS, and other service providers like it. This is not anything new this has been coming for a long time. This is why I have been trying to sound the alarm for our Blind community to start making plans to be in a posission to take care of themselves. Joe is very much correct they want to put all disability groups under one umbrella, they figure that they are trimming the fat with over head and stuff like that. The huge problem is that now you will be assisted by someone who knows little to nothing at all about your disability, because they are bringing in people who know nothing about disabilities as a whole much less our disability. Another thing is the job market, I have said time and time again how it costs more to hire someone who has a disability like being visually impaired. It costs more for a business to buy a JFW program then if they hire someone with sight. Add on to that the fact the people who currently hold jobs with a DBS, or a VOC Rehab, will probably lose their jobs to make way for others who are less experienced with working with the visually impaired. And for those who rely on job placement specialists to find jobs for their clients, good luck, because you are going to need it. If you think that finding a job or a careeris hell now wait you haven't seen the chaos that will soon come to this state with regards to finding employment for the visually impaired. You see everybody if they put everything under one umbrella that means that our community will get less when it comes to funds, and support. I think that this is a huge wake up call for us as a community to start taking steps now to protect ourselves. Joe talked about long lines to receive services, I believe that he is correct. You can't put all of these service providers under one umbrella and expect things to go well. We are about to see very tough times in this state if that crook in the governor's mansion gets his way. I'm a conservative and even I can't deal with his kind of republican. I'm ashamed that he is from south Florida. I'm glad to be your humble and obedient servant, Zechen Elder Daniel Ben Moshe, B'ni Yahshuah Synagogue Of Broward County, www.theblindcansee.org Choose ye this day whom you will serve. If YHWH be Elohim, then serve him, with all of your heart. However, if Baal be your god, then serve him. As for me, and my house. We choose to serve YHWH! The late Bishop Joe O Patterson told a story long ago, when I was a small child. about the show down, between Elijah, and the 450 false prophets of Baal. He shared with us how Elijah, stood, and told the false prophets to go on ahead, and call their god first. Because they had a much larger program. He talked about how they had 450 participants to introduce. Elijah was so sure of YHWH, he with confidence said, that he only had one. Elijah also reminded them, that they had to drag their fake god up the mountain side on an ox cart. Elijah also announced to the world, that his Elohim would be there when he arrived. He said mockingly, you go on ahead. Heck, I will even let you have prime time. I'M going to take a nap, and when you guys finish your foolishness, wake me up. Go ahead now, take your best shot. Bishop Joe O Patterson A blessed memory 1963-1989 -----Original Message----- From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Joe Plummer Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 6:19 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] Re: Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities... This is the worst idea I heard of yet. This is aim at one thing and one thing only that is cutting jobs out. This is also going to make waiting lines extremely long and lots of red tape. It will have people that is in a job that have no idea what we need and are going thru. I have try to tell you all that there Is terrible times coming to Florida and especially the old, helpless the very young and the disable and the handicap. We are now going to be treated like a charity case like someone standing in line for a bowl of soup. We the blind community is going to need medical care say for our eyes and if you are depending on the blind services to do it you are going to have to wait fro ever to get the help. If you need a screen reader to keep your job you will lose the job before you get the screen reader approved. You just wait and see we are going to go backwards 100 years before it is over. In my opinion this is the worst thing that could happen to us just about. sign, Joe Plummer (JP) joeplummer@xxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:tabi-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Lighthouse of the Big Bend Sent: Wednesday, December 08, 2010 3:56 PM To: tabi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: [tabi] Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about if one agency should serve all disabilities... Consumer groups of the Blind/VI may want to get involved, as it looks like Gov Scott's Transition Team may be thinking about whether one agency should serve everyone with disabilities... 12-8-10 Single Department Concept A New Service Delivery System for the 21St Century The purpose of this proposal is to illustrate a method by which Florida can create a single, efficient, consumer driven and community -- based service delivery system to provide services to the over 6 million persons with disabilities in Florida. The ultimate goal is to reduce administrative costs and increase access to services and service dollars; create a more efficient, fraud resistant billing system and create an economic stimulus creating new private sector jobs. . Combining all of the programs and services for persons With disabilities, including the Florida Medicaid Waiver programs, under one department`-. will enable the State to move precious resources to actual service delivery for persons with:.disabilities and seniors across the disability spectrum and Recycle. . This department can have one point of entry with a standardized application, eligibility criteria, provider qualifications, and provider rates for all services and programs. . Creation of new jobs in the areas of core munity - based service delivery and fraud prevention methods. This would mean the recruitment of new entrepreneurial minded providers into the system statewide. To accomplish this goal, certain units can be removed from current departments and placed in the new departmental structure. Personnel requirements will then be determined, based on the overall organization. Departments effected: . Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA), the . Department of Health (DOH), the . Department of Children and Families (DCF), the . Department of Eider Affairs(CARES), the . Department of Education (Vocational Rehabilitation and Division of Blind Services), and . The Agency for"Persons with Disabilities As this new department is being physically formed, a new philosophy will also be nurtured. A philosophy of ingenuity, creativity, and an entrepreneurial spirit, where employees are encouraged to think "outside of the box" to solve the problems we will face in the coming years. We must encourage unique, public - private partnerships at every level, in order to maximize our precious resources. This includes private entity investment into not only service provision but employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. It is only through this "rebirth" of the physical and philosophical can we have a department that is truly responsive to our citizens. In Florida, every day over 6 million persons, with identified or self-reported disabilities study, live, play, and work. The vast majority of persons with disabilities can secure and maintain full or part -- time competitive employment. They exhibit more courage and fortitude daily than some people do in a lifetime. These Floridians do not want a hand out but a hand up, a chance to maximize their individual independence and to be as included in their community as they wish, This untapped resource of ready and willing potential employees should not be ignored. Having all disability programs and services, including Medicaid Waivers located within one department, will: Streamline the application, eligibility, and acceptance process for consumers and providers. Eliminate the "silo" effect, bringing all state organizations working with persons with disabilities under one organizational plan and chain of command. Reduce redundant administrative costs to include office space and other such equipment. Create new private sector opportunities for persons who become disabled as adults. Require anyone wishing to file for federal disability programs to register with Vocational Rehabilitation. Begin early working with the person focusing on ways to maximize his/her abilities. in many cases, it may be possible for the person with the disability to emerge with a better, more lucrative career. The department will maximize existing resources, such as using the Clearinghouse on Disability Information to: Maintain one website for all information on disabilities. Operate a single toll-free phone number with accessibility built into the system. Have a dedicated information referral system that not only serves consumers, but providers and other state agencies. ? Allow the department to standardize the processes to determine eligibility (one assessment instrument), provider qualifications and enrollment, service limitations, rates of pay, nursing home transition initiatives, etc. ? Reduce or maintain turnaround time in billing to enable providers to receive pay for services in a timely fashion, while cutting down on potential fraud. Through a coordinated, functional needs based system, all individuals with disabilities will have their needs assessed and identified by a Global Assessment with a single Case Plan. Bryan F. Vaughan, MS Executive Director Commission on Disabilities 1217/2010 Page 2 of 4 .:. Adapt the existing iBudget algorithm across the disabilities spectrum to ensure a consistent and efficient distribution of scarce resources. :. Serve consumers and providers will be served in a timelier and more consistent manner statewide. One standardized assessment instrument to determine risk of institutionalization and eligibility for waiver services would ensure services are provided to those most in need and would reduce the number of individuals currently on wait lists for the various waivers. Provider qualifications and rate of pay will be consistent and allow them to serve all populations without having to apply to work with multiple waivers and organizations. The Legislature will only need to deal with one budget to fund all the waivers. The processes for being placed on a wait list will be standardized throughout all the individual waivers. Funding for community-based, long-term care services would be more equitable for each of the disability groups competing for limited resources. Note: Some agencies may be reluctant' to relinquish administration of their waiver programs. Consumers and providers currently being served by the various waivers may be impacted if service limitations and rates of pay are standardized. Use of the iBudget algorithm will ensure a person's needs are met in an effective manner. Some individual disability groups may be concerned about any change in the current structure which can be mitigated through an appropriate public information program. Evidence to Support Single Department The states of Illinois and Vermont have already gone to the single entity system with good results. Real Choice Systems Change Grant Program, Third Year Report: Progress and Challenges of the FY 2002 and FY 2003 Grantees: (October 1, 2003 -- September 30, 2004) Final Report. Consolidation The Governor's Commission on Disabilities, along with personnel from the effected departments, advocates, and providers could work towards the planning, development, and implementation of this single department. Planning & Timeline Planning could begin to consolidate all programs and services, including waivers under one department in the 2010 - 2011 fiscal year, with implementation occurring in an on-going basis. Full consolidation could take until the 2011 -- 2012 fiscal year. Estimated Potential Savings ? A coordinated waiver program would require fewer administrative staff, intake and referral staff, provider enrollment staff and fiscal staff to moriitorexpenditures. ? There would be a reduction in allocated office space, expenses;, and equipment allocations for personnel due to consolidation into one agency. Multiple websites dedicated to the various waivers would be reduced.to>one. This would also create a more user friendly, accessible system of delivering information. **g Consolidating multiple call-centers for consumers and providers would still allow calls to be channeled from one line directly to the appropriate waiver specialist. Florida currently has a great need for more community - based service providers. Partnerships with Colleges of Business at our State Universities, as well as the Chamber of Commerce for Persons with Disabilities, can promote an entrepreneurial effort to create these small provider businesses. To reduce fraud, a "call and verify" system can be included as part of the billing cycle. When a provider bills the department, a random verification system will identify a consumer to be called and asked if helshe has received the items or services as billed. This process will help prevent discrepancies and false claims as are potential risks under the current system. The department can either decide to use one or multiple verifying agencies. This can be performed by workers from home (enabling persons with disabilities, seniors, or others who are transportation disadvantaged) or a central location. -- Lighthouse of the Big Bend Guiding People Through Vision Loss 3071 Highland Oaks Terrace Tallahassee, FL 32301 (850) 942-3658 www.lighthousebigbend.org Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject. Check out the TABI resource web page at http://acorange.home.comcast.net/TABI and please make suggestions for new material. if you'd like to unsubscribe you can do so through the freelists.org web interface, or by sending an email to the address tabi-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject.